Following his visit to Ravenna, the German artist Wolfgang Laib has accepted to create a temporary installation inside the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

Characterized by the use of natural materials like pollen and beeswax, Laib's artwork is a tribute to St. Apollinaris, the patron saint of Ravenna, whose figure stands at the centre of the mosaic decoration of the apse wearing a dress adorned with bees.

The project - combining ancient and contemporary art - is part of Ravenna's bidding process for European Capital of Culture 2019.

-----Wolfgang Laib (1950) has exhibited his works all over the world, including New York (at MOMA – Museum of Modern Art), Munich (Haus der Kunst) and Paris (Centre Pompidou). Laib is known for the deep spirituality of his works and for his research in the fields of philosophy and nature.